Tag Archives: Writing

Influences and Inspiration

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“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” ~Winston Churchill

Chula Beauregard http://bit.ly/tTHd8f , muralist and plein air painter, was featured artist of the month at the Wild Horse Gallery  on last Friday’s Art Walk. As I visited with Chula, I quickly became aware of how well-known about town she is. It became evident, from those who began to file in the gallery doors to congratulate her and see her exhibit, that her development as an artist has been admired, by many. 

Chula was a student of artist Richard Galusha. When I asked Shirley Stocks, co-owner of the Wild Horse Gallery, what traits she and Richard saw in Chula that made them want to represent her work, they cited “her potential to be a successful artist and she understands that Art is a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and hard work.” Chula’s dedication to her craft has led her to positions of teaching at the middle school, high school and college level, too. 

Her interest in the Arts began as a child. By the fifth grade Chula began to feel a stirring interest in painting. She would work beside her artist mother, Gigi, who shares her creative spirit.  She related that “when her family took a boat trip to the Bahamas, her interest in plein air painting really began in earnest.” 

On the exterior wall of Steamboat Ski and Bike Kare, Chula’s most recent mural is installed. The mural measuring 10 ft X 16 ft, was painted indoors over a three week period. It is hung in three panels. Millions of recreational tourist dollars are brought to our town year round. The mural is a visual reminder of the value the biking industry plays in contributing to the local economy. Steamboat hopes to become designated as Bike Town USA. 

Although indoor work is required on many of Chula’s largest art installations, she loves painting on location “en plein air” – outside of the studio. Her ability to translate on canvas what she sees is a reflection of her abilities as an artist. The color palettes of her plein air sketches are true to nature.  Her plein air oil paintings capture landscapes in Steamboat and throughout Routt County. 

Finding time to paint has  become more challenging for Chula, as she is now a young mother with two little toddlers. However, she paints almost daily, finding fulfillment in shorter periods of time.  To have her work hang in a top quality gallery among an impressive list of nationally known artists at her relatively young age is what many emerging artists strive for. To view Chula’s plein air paintings on line, please visit the Wild Horse Gallery at http://www.wildhorsegallery.com/.

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Daylight Comes in Memories

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 “Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.” ~ Wayne Dyer 

Daylight savings time has arrived. For those people whose bodies are sensitive to light, perhaps the long season of diminished day light will provide an extra hour of sleep.

Spring, summer and fall are my seasons of choice. Here in mountain country, winter is literally experienced in the raw. The biting, blustery Arctic winds are a reminder of the nature’s less gentle ways with us. Moments of glory in winter come when the rays of sunshine peak out from behind the somber clouds of a raging snowstorm. Those rays carry a special splendor, far different and more dazzling, than the sunshine of summer days. I rely on extra moments of light and illumination from within during the dark season of winter. 

This year, my memories and photographs of our family’s October wedding by the Chesapeake Bay, will bring me pleasure in the bleak hours of a winter’s day. My niece’s engagement began with the husband-to-be creating a story that will long be remembered. The thoughts of the sparkle of the bride’s eyes on wedding day, the camaraderie of eight cousins brought together to share a special occasion, the budding new relationship of two strong families tied together through a marriage, and God’s grace in granting long, healthy lives to the bride’s Grandparents who were there to witness the scene, is enough to brighten even the longest winter. 

My Thanksgiving horn of plenty was filled early this year with the blessings of a family gathered. A nourishment of spirit comes with fulfilling thoughts of gratefulness for the abundance of a happy home and family. I need not a thing more.

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Butterflies at Art Award Night in Vermont

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“A novel is not, after all, a historical document, but a way to travel through the human heart.” ~ Julia Alvarez – In the Time of the Butterflies 

Tonight, November 4th,  the Vermont Arts Council http://bit.ly/7Ncf6e  will have their annual awards honoring three outstanding artists. All three are working in their fields to share their talents through their poetry, books and musical compositions. 

Christian Wolff will be receiving the Walter Cerf Award for Outstanding Achievement in the performing arts.  He has recorded over 20 solo CDs and his book Cues, is a collection of his writings on music. For more information on his musical compositions and his life, please visit  http://bit.ly/cJGbcs. 

Julia Alvarez is the writer-in-residence at MiddleburyCollege. She has 5 published novels, a book of essays and many books for young readers. Several of her books have been adapted for film and theatre and are available in many languages and in many countries around the world.  An organic farm-literacy arts center in her homeland of the Dominican Republic holds a special place in her heart, and she shares of herself there, too. For more information on this author and her new book which will be available in the spring of 2012, please visit  http://bit.ly/9WSMSJ. 

Sydney Lea is a poet and prose writer often writing on subjects such as ecology and the natural environment. He has two books of essays, a published novel and has just been named Poet Laureate of Vermont. He makes his home in Newbury, Vermont. To read more about this multi-lingual professor of literature, please go to  http://bit.ly/ofelnu. 

Every year I look forward in great anticipation to receiving my Vermont Arts Gala invitation, whether I am able to attend or not. It is fulfilling to learn about the artists who are being celebrated for their contributions of inspiring others in the creative state of Vermont.

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Eureka! Wonders of the Web

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If you are an independent publisher, e-marketing can help you find people you have had relationships with in the past but had lost track. Potential book buyers are often people with whom you have had fulfilling personal connections with. Your relationship with a customer may have begun a long time ago – as a child, in school, through a career, in church or by being a joint member of a fraternal or service organization. A book written by long lost friend always holds curiosity and intrigue.

Way back on February 2, 2010, I posted a blog on All Things Fulfilling entitled Antiquarian Advice. http://bit.ly/uMfwK8. The blog mentioned a book my Uncle, Dr. John C. Krantz had co-authored more than 5 decades ago with the  then Governor of Maryland called The Art of Eloquence.

The other day, more than a year and a half after the blog had been posted, I received a comment to the blog!  It came from a woman who was a neighbor of the Uncle I had featured.  She contacted me  to say that she remembered my Uncle and his wife, very well. She mentioned she used to go to his house more than 50 years ago to babysit (I’ve concluded his Grandchildren). 

It was not spam! It was the real thing!   She went on to describe the color and style of their home, their address and the name of their daughter. All correct! 

It was a splendid surprise to have heard from her. I was astonished. How did she find the blog that was written a year and a half ago, I wonder?  She now resides many states away from her childhood home of Baltimore.  I, the author of  the blog, am now located far from my east coast family roots of  Baltimore– in the Western part of the country. Yet, we were able to connect. I certainly did not know who this person was, but she found me and now I do! 

This is a perfect example of how communities of people connect through the world- wide-web. If you are not visible on the internet,  your potential book buyers can not find you. As Bill Gates once said  “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.”  There is a lot of truth in that!

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Fulfilling Needs to Express An Opinion

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“We will act consistently with our view of who we truly are, whether that view is accurate or not.” ~ Tony Robbins
 
Opinions about the pro’s and con’s  of  e-marketing have grown ever louder as people adjust to new ways of doing business in today’s world.  A whole new dimension of promotion, advertising and marketing means thinking creatively and networking creatively to sell products and services.

Today, on this blogsite All Things Fulfilling,  we are going to do something new. We want feedback from you! Not through comments to our blog but, through a poll!

Let us know what you think about this thing called “e-marketing.” Is it here to stay? The poll will only take a second or two of your time – there are three answers to chose from.  We look forward to seeing the results and we will share them with you at a later date!

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Landscapes, Seascapes and TableScapes

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“Art allows us to lose ourselves and find ourselves at the same time.” ~Thomas Merton 

A mix of business and pleasure took me on the road over the past few weeks. I saw landscapes and seascapes far different than what the magnificent Northwest Mountains of Colorado have to offer! 

I like to explore all different kinds of art in Steamboat and in other towns, too. I came across a “Scape” of a different kind in the historic and artsy town of Frederick, Maryland. I visited The Little Pottery Shop and I learned about the wonderful art of Table Scapes. 

The Little Pottery Shop http://bit.ly/tdNhBT  is not only a retail establishment, but it also has a studio for creating handcrafted pottery. The artisans had teamed up with The Loft at AI, an antiques gallery next door, to showcase the displays of their pottery, both hand built and thrown on the wheel. The TableScapes were a feast for the eye! It was like browsing through the “I Spy Books.” Antique drawer knobs and other baubles were adapted for napkin rings, the table linens, glassware, chairs, candleholders, flower vases and other ornamentation all contributed to the overall visual effects. Each table beautifully carried out the theme and other accessories helped create the scene. http://bit.ly/hA0U1s. 

There were 12 enchanting TableScapes:

  • The EnchantedForest
  • Made in Maryland
  • Scare-tacular Table
  • A Walk inProvence
  • The Wedding to Remember
  • Christmas Memories
  • Thanksgiving Turkey Table Talk
  • Indian Treasures Table
  • A Day at the Beach
  • The Madhatter
  • Down on the Farm
  • Serving up the Stew 

No matter where people travel, in this country or worldwide, there are artists everywhere providing personally fulfilling opportunities for people to learn more about art. It’s available in rural hamlets, in cities and everywhere in between. Don’t miss out!

 Made in Maryland TableScape

 A Day at the Beach TableScape

To  see more tablescape photos, please visit http://bit.ly/hA0U1s.

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Celebrate Tell a Story Day

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“Firelight will not let you read fine stories, but it’s warm, and you won’t see the dust on the floor.” ~ Celtic Saying 

Tomorrow, October 28th is Tell a Story Day in Scotland and in the United Kingdom. http://bit.ly/11gmg3. Telling stories verbally and through the written word can be fulfilling for both narrator and for the listener or reader!  

What a great opportunity to use creativity to tell stories orally.

  • Tell a scary story – dim the lights, illuminate the room with some candles and creep the listener right out of their seat!
  • Reminisce about your favorite family story. Use old family photos to enhance the images you paint in words.
  • Seize the moment, act silly and use your wit to tell a hilarious, goofy tale.
  • Host a murder mystery party story. Have your guests be the gumshoe in solving “who done it.”
  • Tell a Cinderella love story and dress the part! Don’t forget the handsome young prince too.
  • Do a little research on your favorite era in history. Dress in period clothing and do some play acting to recount the tale or the event. 

Do you like telling stories through writing? In the United States, the perfect opportunity to start writing your novel is coming up. November is National Novel Writing Month! Challenge yourself to write a novel in 30 days. There is a website that will give you all the details of how you can be involved and many local libraries participate with fun events all revolving around this nationwide event for authors. For more information, please visit  http://www.nanowrimo.org/. 

Happy Story Telling, Everyone!

More independent thoughts, words and views tomorrow from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Answering the Call

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“The idea of a sacred place…is apparently as old as life itself.” ~Joseph Campbell 

We have a winner! On September 2, I wrote a blog which was a follow-up of Glassworks Inspired by Nature, the most frequently read blog on All Things Fulfilling of all time. I put out a challenge to our readers, to send in a suggestion of a beautiful building that incorporates history, architecture and outstanding glass installations. My hope was that the choice would educate me and our readers about an awe-inspiring structure that is in a far off part of the world.  

Marie, sent in her suggestion of the Chartres Cathedral, located inParis,France. It well fit the bill! This sacred UNESCO World Heritage site was constructed between the years 1193 and 1250. It is considered one of the finest examples of French High Gothic Style in the world.

Not only is the building of great historical value, millions of people visit the Cathedral because of a relic that sits inside the doors. The Sancta Camisa, the tunic believed to have been worn by the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the time of Christ’s birth was acquired by the Cathedral in c.876 and it is on display. The indoor labyrinth is of great interest, too.

The church has seen fire damage to the structure and to the vivid stained glass windows, installed throughout. The French Revolution and World War II also took a toll. But many of the original glass installations are still intact. From an art historical viewpoint, the Cathedral, inside and out, has been preserved magnificently. 

Not only is the building  notable for it’s history, architectural elements and for the exquisite glass installations, it is a sacred place for worship for tourists who come from around the world, each and every year. To read more about this fascinating shrine, please visit http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral.  

Thank you, Marie, for answering the call and for being a loyal visitor to this blog site. Contributions from readers like you make blogging all the more fulfilling.

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Interweavings of Faith

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“I am sensitive to the value of faith and religion and spirituality in people’s lives because I’m a journalist.”  ~ Peter Jennings

Last weekend, I attended my third annual United Methodist Women’s (UMW) Retreat. http://bit.ly/9W2ac2. It was a great deal of fun! As in the past years, what made the experience so rich and rewarding was the broad mix of women in many stages of life. There were mothers with younger children, women with college-aged children, empty nesters, grandmothers and retirees. Everyone contributed valuably to the conversations regarding their own spirituality and the paths in life they have traveled to arrive at their thoughts. 

We took several topics throughout the day and broke into random small groups to discuss our feelings and opinions of how the subject matter related to our own lives. Lo and behold, several of those gathered in my group are interested in independently publishing their beautiful and fulfilling stories of their walk with faith.  

Of course, a discussion ensued about how in this day and age anyone can publish and sell their independent stories through e-commerce and e-marketing (selling and marketing publications on the world-wide-web).  

By the end of the day-long retreat, we had all found friendship and fellowship with many women we had never known before. The common threads of places we have traveled, experiences we have had and the spiritual beliefs we share, are often the ties that bind. 

Thank you to all who made the day a great success. The location in Steamboat had an awe inspiring landscape. I enjoyed the art and music, ate a lot of good food and gained a better understanding of what this thing called “yoga” is all about too!

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Effervescent Spirit of the West

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“Nature always wears the color of spirit.” ~  Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I tried fishing the pools, the bucket, in the riffles and at the tops and tails of running water in the clear, cool river, to no avail. Not even a fingerling was interested in the wet or dry flies that I had to offer the other day. 

No matter, it was a glorious day of angling out on the Elk River in Steamboat Springs,Colorado. It was fulfilling enough just wading in the water up and down the shoreline. I listened and watched the water as it tripped and cascaded over the river rock making the way downstream. In some areas the water rushed and gushed by me and in other parts of the river it gently meandered past. 

Standing in the stream, knee deep, I couldn’t help but think of the life giving properties of water for human consumption and for our crops. I breathed deeply the scent of rotting leaves and became lost in my own thoughts of just how precious and few the days are here in Steamboat without the white winter goddess called Snow. The landscape has already turned from green to grey, the few leaves that are still left on the aspens are now gold – what many shopkeepers, galleries, businessowners,  restaurants and hotels hope to find in the upcoming season of winter. 

In a  resort town, it’s important that tourists and travelers find lots of sparkle on the mountain but also in the spirit of the people who serve them. To survive in a seasonal economy, it helps to have visitors return at all times of year to visit the Elk RiverValley, and to talk with others in other places about the bountiful beauty of the scenery and the people. 

The residents of Steamboat easily share their effervescent spirit. Many people would say there is no other place they’d rather be. It’s an inspirational place that people write ” they’d love to call home.” http://bit.ly/jRTnc.

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